This... was so completely different from what Jiro knew. During his morning wandering he spotted the building and just had to visit. He had no idea what to expect and when he walked in to see the multitude of objects that were entirely foreign his eyes lit up.

Masaru had planned on checking out Little Khanbulak as soon as he had heard he was coming to the Topaz. The Lion boy walked through the building looking at the curiosities from across the world but also taking time here and there to observe the columns and other strange architecture that the building was made of.

As the Kitsu looked up examining the domed roof as he moved between displays he bumped into someone, not hard as he had been moving at a leisurely pace, but enough to jostle both of them.

The Kitsu looked down from the dome to the person and bowed deeply to the Phoenix boy "Apologies Phoenix-san! I was careless as I walked." He said as he straightened from the bow and regarded them with bright, amber colored eyes.

A bit surprised as he had been drawn in by the sights and similarly not noticed the Lion, he likewise lowered his head in apology. "Not at all. I was not paying proper attention," he says before lifting his head once more. "It seems we've both been distracted by the sights in here, no? I am Shiba Jiro, it is a pleasure to meet you."

Kitsu? Hair says Kitsu...

Masaru smiled his expression a little embarrassed but also friendly and open "You are too kind Shiba-san." The red haired Lion said with another shallower bow "This one is Kitsu Masaru, it is indeed a pleasure to meet you. His voice was warm and pleasant to most ears.

"I admit this is a wonderful place. There is nothing like it in the Lion lands. Everything is so unique, an especially strange place in an already strange city." He said looking about for a bit his eyes making their way back to Jiro.

The Lion would likely see, as Jiro was seeing, that the two of them likely had a fair bit in common despite growing up in completely different worlds.

"It's honestly a larger city than I am used to. Though I visited Shiro sano Kakita for a bit a couple years ago, I don't see many places this size. And this in particular..." he looked around the building, "...is something else entirely. It's so strange and interesting."

Masaru had a small smile on his lips and nodded earnestly "yes this is quite the place indeed." He said possibly referring to their immediate surroundings or Tsuma as a whole. Perhaps both.

"Coming from Foshi we have a lot of farmers but that's about it." He said with a small laugh somewhere between a chuckle and a giggle "this city has all kinds of interesting people in it."

He regarded the Phoenix boy for a beat "and where is it you come from Shiba-san?"

"Zumiki-Mihari, though the small town that supports it, and not the tower itself," he replies.

"Many are either connected to the tower directly or in a support capacity back home," he explained. "We've got a couple farms, but most of our food is brought in from elsewhere in the province. I've long suspected that our little village was a bit unique, if unexciting. Like finding a strange shaped rock in a creek bed. At the end of the day, it's still a rock even if it looks a bit different. Though I don't really know what they do in the tower so I may be completely wrong about that." He chuckled, as one of the things he enjoyed doing was imagining what went on in the tower, as a small game.

He looks around at the things here and inclined his head to suggest they walk and observe the oddities together.

Masaru nods and begins walking his eyes alternating between looking at the wares on display and his conversational partner "Foshi is mostly nothing but farms. We supply the most food of any Lion holding. A great honor to be sure but not a terribly exciting place to grow up." He says with a soft chuckle.

"I don't believe I have heard of this tower though. It sounds like a pretty exciting mystery. I can't believe you haven't tried to figure it out yet."

"Well, it's a tower on the border between Phoenix and Otomo lands. Seems a strange place for one. I suspect that I might have learned it's purpose if I had been trained as a bushi, since I'd likely end up performing a similar duty as my father in that case. As it is, though, I'm fine with not knowing. As far as I know I might be better off not knowing," he replied with a chuckle.

"No local Foshi mysteries then?"

Upon noticing a stringed instrument, he is drawn towards it, though not at the expense of conversation.

Masaru nodded "Yes sometimes not knowing things can he easier. And more fun to imagine than to find out." He said with an easy smile as they moved.

"Plenty of mysteries. If there's one thing farmers are as good at as farming it's being superstitious." He chuckled "but not many mysteries with much substance."

Masaru moved with Jiro to the instrument "Do you Play Shiba-san?"

"Well, some superstitions are more substantive than we might assume at first. It's not uncommon that a spirit might respond to the beliefs of people in the area."

He shrugs lightly with a smile, as if to say, Who knows?

"The koto. But... this is interesting. I've never seen anything like it. I am curious how it is played... but I suspect it is likely also quite expensive, being a rare and probably relatively unique item here."